There is so much information forced on to us today about health.  Some of us may feel we are absolutely saturated with it as this ‘education’ fills our newspapers, magazines and television screens.  Good or bad, whatever angle this information may take, one thing that they all have in common and I agree with whole heartedly is:  

NOBODY SHOULD EVER SKIP BREAKFAST!

It’s absolutely true that it is the most important meal of the day.  First of all it jump-starts our metabolism.  As soon as you eat something your metabolism is fired and your body starts to burn up energy.  If you don’t eat breakfast and wait till mid morning or worse still wait until lunch time to eat, then your body naturally slows down your metabolism – a way of conserving energy.  So unwittingly, even though you think you may have consumed fewer calories by skipping a meal, you really are making things harder for your body, especially if you’re trying to lose body fat.  Some of the most over weight people I have met are the ones who only eat one meal a day – dinner.

If you skip breakfast regularly you may notice you get a big mid-morning hunger burst which often causes you to over-eat, and eat things you know you probably shouldn't.  A lot of people complain that they can’t eat breakfast as soon as they wake up.  My answer is usually the same – get up earlier!  If you’re serious about improving your health and correcting your metabolism then you’ll do it.  It won’t take you too long to adjust. 

A good way to think about your body is as a fire, with food being the wood that fuels it.  We all know if we don’t put enough wood on a fire, at the right time, or if we put bad wood on a fire, that it won’t burn very hot or well at all.  The same can be said of our metabolisms.  If you skip meals and consume poor quality foods, your body has no choice but to slow down and conserve as much energy as it can.  So do yourself a favour and make time for a balanced breakfast in the morning.  It should be the most well organised meal of your day.  If you’re stuck for choices ask your personal trainer for more ideas.

© Kylie Pogson 2005

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